Garage heaters...

[jferrante]

Well its awfully cold in NJ today and was thinking about getting a heater for the garage. I looked into this briefly last year and a lot of people liked the little red heate for occasional use (link below)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dr-Infrared-Heater-Industrial-series-5600-Watt-240-Volt-Portable-Garage-Heater-with-Thermostat-DR988/205665598?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CTHD%7CG%7C0%7CG-BASE-PLA-D27E-Electrical%7C&gclid=CjwKCAiArrrQBRBbEiwAH_6sNEU2y5FW-JqYWBW-HKPVGyWMQ3bSIjb7ZAahue85XNXyWFZUDZGzfBoCZxwQAvD_Bw E&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMDamYn4xdcCFQusyAoduE4LHQ

my garage is insulated 24x24 with an upstairs and I only want it to be more comfortable on the cold days - not 80 degrees.
Also not looking to spend more than 250 on it since I have car parts to buy

Anyone using portable heaters they like?

[Roswell]

Dr Infrared is the best, sitting in front of one as I type. the 240v model would be a great choice.

[timmy2]

I’ve had one or two of those (or just like it) for many years. (Canadian Tire version)
Turn it on a while before you want to work, turn it off when you leave.
Keeps the cold at bay. Usually have to turn it off while working as it gets too warm.
I really needed them when I lived in Canada, not as often here in Oregon.

Just be sure to keep it away from combustibles and the lower to the ground, the better. Mine sits on the cement floor.

Headed North?
$99 Canadian is about $75 US!

https://m.canadiantire.ca/products/productDetail/0522638P?storeClearance=false&isNonOnline=false&isAutomotive=false&isBarcodeValue=false&selectedSku=0522638

[theiceman]

wow so when you turn it on its like having 56 100 watt lightbulbs on in your house ... !!! that's quite the draw !!

[chrismorse]

Unless you want to run a dedicated 240 volt line to the garage you will need to snipe power from the dryer, (may cause marital discomfort), or unplug or wire into your compressor circuit, can't run both at the same time.

Has anyone tried a propane radiant with a catalytic combustion??
Supposed to be safe??

I know this would blow the OP's budget, but it would really solve the problem, at a much lower operating cost.i think the best solution would be a direct vent natural gas wall heater, with a fan assist.

Backing up a bit, insulation and weatherstripping (including the garage door), will make any heating option more effective.

Insulated clothes and electric underwear,(black lace :-), are only going to be marginally helpful,(but, you'd be smilin).

Chris

Chris

[bpu699]

Yep, that's the red heater I have. Works great in a 2 car "mostly" insulated garage. You do need 240v.

I use a torpedo kerosene heater to heat the place up, takes about 10 minutes to go from 20 degrees to 60 degrees, and heat the concrete, etc.

Then, use the red heater to maintain the heat so I am not inhaling carbon Monoxide.

Works great...

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by theiceman

wow so when you turn it on its like having 56 100 watt lightbulbs on in your house ... !!! that's quite the draw !!

Costs about 30 cents an hour in the Midwest. About $5 a day.

Costly if you run it for the whole season. Dirt cheap if you only run it while in the garage....

[onewhippedpuppy]

I use a two burner propane radiant heater in my garage (Mr Heater I think), 3 car with about 780 sq ft. It's very portable as it mounts on top of a typical propane tank. No fumes, no venting required. The garage is fully insulated with insulated doors, but on a cold winter morning it can easily be 30 deg F. I fire up the heater, have a cup of coffee, and by that point it's normally at least 50 deg F. Rarely do I leave it run for my entire wrenching session, it will eventually get relatively toasty.

I would like to eventually install a gas fired heater with thermostat, but those are a bigger pain because they are through-roof vented.

[Catorce]

I have the red heater, works great, no disappointments.

[jferrante]

Thanks - I guess the key is to find the balance between running a 240 line and finding a safe way to use a gas burner without suffocating. Would rather have a 240 outlet but I don't..

[froggert]

I have this guy in the garage now and like it. It's probably undersized for the space but does a decent enough job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fahrenheat-5-000-Watt-Unit-Heater-FUH54/202043073?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-205665598-_-202043073-_-N

Before moving to the current house, I used a couple of 120v heaters in a 20x23 garage. Still have them lying around if you want to borrow/try.

[adias]

Originally Posted by bpu699

Costs about 30 cents an hour in the Midwest. About $5 a day.

Costly if you run it for the whole season. Dirt cheap if you only run it while in the garage....

Love states where kWh is 5 cents. Out West we are paying 4-5X more to subsidize Elon's ventures.

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by adias

Love states where kWh is 5 cents. Out West we are paying 4-5X more to subsidize Elon's ventures.

Just double checked. Nationwide average is 12 cents, we are 9 cents in Wisconsin per kilowatt. So a 5000w heater is 25 cents an hour to run, if on full time (it isn't). 6$ a day, $240 a month...

But that assumes it runs 24 hours a day, it probably runs about half the time when I am using it... so about 12.5 cents an hour...

[evan9eleven]

FWIW I have a panel oven in the garage (electric panel heater that hangs on the wall.) Its 1200 W, I set it to 15C (59F) and thats enough to cut the chill. My garage is fully insulated and I run the heater 24/7. Keeps the humidity down and workspace comfortable when I'm using it most days of the week.

I have 230V everywhere but thats just how it is

PS my electricty is all locally generated hydro power, so green. And 12 cents/ kWh I can only dream about...

[Dpmulvan]

I'm installing a sterling propane heater right now. I bought it through littlegreenhouse.com. You can buy a seperated combustion kit for it so no humidity issues or worry about blowing yourself up. It's 45,000 btu cost about $600. I've used a buddy heater for years 18,000 btu on high, my garage is 30 by 30 and well insulated the buddy can get it up to about 60 on single digit days. I got sick of lugging propane tanks and the fumes so I'm hooking up the sterling, vent it out the wall a hundred lb tank, thermostat, hang it from the ceiling and your done.

[Lake Guy]

I installed a natural gas direct vent radiant heater in my garage. No products of combustion in the space and no shop air needed for the burner. It vents out through the sidewall. Very quiet because the only thing you hear is the vent fan for the burner. It’s on a thermostat so it doesn’t overheat me. Being a radiant heater means it heats the surfaces such as the car, my tools, the work bench and me but it doesn’t heat the air directly. The concrete floor heats up well so my feet are warm.

I own a heating business and in our market this is the best solution for sure. We have some nasty weather in northern B.C. and my garage is kept very comfortable.

Residential Infrared Tube Heating - RG Infrared Heaters

Mark

[jferrante]

Originally Posted by froggert

I have this guy in the garage now and like it. It's probably undersized for the space but does a decent enough job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fahrenheat-5-000-Watt-Unit-Heater-FUH54/202043073?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-205665598-_-202043073-_-N

Before moving to the current house, I used a couple of 120v heaters in a 20x23 garage. Still have them lying around if you want to borrow/try.

Thanks - debating on which way to go and not go crazy. A lot of good info here.

[garment]

I bought a big buddy in 2013. Worked a treat for my suspension project last winter. 20x30 garage. Mr. Heater MH18B, Portable Propane Heater https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002WRHE8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RU2dAbKMGTAA4

[rwest]

I put an 220V electric heater in my insulated garage and running it is pretty expensive, adds about $100 a month and I only keep the garage about 45F.

I will eventually put in an infrared gas tube heater unit, probably pay for the thing in a couple seasons of electric savings.

[azhodge]

HF sells a two burner heater that screws on top of a propane tank. keeps you nice and toasty. just crack the garage door a bit. lots cheaper...